Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Sunday, February 18
Murfreesboro, TN
3:25 PM
Middle Tennessee
3-0
9
vs
3
Western Illinois
0-3
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Western Illinois
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
2
3
11
1
Middle Tennessee
0
1
2
0
2
3
1
0
0
9
12
1
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Wigginton, Peyton (1-0)
L: DUNNE (0-1)
Batting:
2B: MONTGOMERY 1 ; FLEEK 1 ; THOMPSON 1
RBI: MCSHANE 1 ; FLEEK 1 ; HANNANT 1
Base Running:
RUNS: MONTGOMERY 1 ; SEARS 1 ; ARD 1
PO: MCSHANE 1
Batting:
2B: Woodard, LA 1 ; Dennis, Austin 2 ; Benefield, Blake 1
3B: Lopez, Manuel 1
HR: Lopez, Manuel 1
RBI: Woodard, LA 1 ; Dennis, Austin 2 ; Huff, Drew 1 ; Aucker, Aaron 2 ; Lopez, Manuel 2
SF: Woodard, LA 1 ; Huff, Drew 1 ; Aucker, Aaron 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Woodard, LA 2 ; Dennis, Austin 2 ; Christian, Myles 1 ; Lopez, Manuel 3 ; Sullivan, Kevin 1
SB: Woodard, LA 1 ; Christian, Myles 1 ; Antonini, Aaron 1 ; Sullivan, Kevin 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
3
H
3
RBI
2
AB
2
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
AB
5
R
2
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
IF
/ Baseball
OF/IF
/ BaseballOF/IF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballOF
/ BaseballIF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ BaseballIF
/ BaseballBaseball earns season-opening sweep vs. Western Illinois
2/18/2018 7:41:00 PM | Baseball
First 3-0 start since 2009
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Four Blue Raiders provided multi-hit games and a pair of freshman pitchers came up big as Middle Tennessee disposed of Western Illinois, 9-3, in the second game of a doubleheader Sunday.
With the win, Middle Tennessee swept the opening weekend series to start 3-0 for the first time since 2009.
"The big thing was getting all of the games in this weekend and playing well," Middle Tennessee Head Coach Jim McGuire said. "Our starting pitchers kept us in the games and gave us opportunities throughout the series and that was big. I thought we hit throughout the lineup. We had big hits, timely hits and we had guys getting it done in big situations.
"It is a good start to the season. We just need to stay focused and continue to improve. It's certainly a great way to get things started."
Freshman left-hander Peyton Wigginton (1-0) earned the start in the series finale, and the southpaw made sure his Blue Raider debut would be one to remember. Wigginton pitched six innings, scattering six hits, allowing just one run, striking out seven and walking one to earn the win in his first career start.
Wigginton turned the game over to fellow freshman Zach Keenan in the seventh. Keenan provided two innings of one-hit shutout baseball, striking out two. Fellow freshman John Dowless came on to close out the game in the top of the ninth.
While the pitchers controlled the game, Middle Tennessee hitters provided plenty of breathing room.
Manuel Lopez just missed hitting for the cycle and led the 12-hit attack with a 3-for-4 effort that included a home run, triple and single. Lopez also scored three times and drove in two runs. His first home run of the season was a gargantuan opposite-field blast to right field that opened up a 5-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth.
Lopez was not the only Blue Raider to open the season swinging a hot bat. LA Woodard capped a dazzling weekend with a 2-for-2 performance that included a double, two runs scored, one RBI and one stolen base, his third of the season.
Austin Dennis and Kevin Sullivan also provided multi-hit performances to help ignite the Blue Raider offense. Dennis capped a strong weekend by going 2-for-4 with two doubles, two runs scored and two RBI. Sullivan was also solid all weekend and provided a multi-hit game with a 2-for-3 effort.
It was a sizzling day at the plate for Woodard, Dennis, Myles Christian and Aaron Aucker, who combined for 14 hits in the two games Sunday. Woodard was exceptional on the day, going 5-for-7 with four runs scored, three RBI and three stolen bases. He had eight total bases and collected a double and triple.
Dennis and Christian were each 3-for-7 and hit .429 in the two games, while Aucker finished the day with a .400 clip.
The Blue Raiders will look to continue their winning ways with a road game against Alabama Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 3 PM.
With the win, Middle Tennessee swept the opening weekend series to start 3-0 for the first time since 2009.
"The big thing was getting all of the games in this weekend and playing well," Middle Tennessee Head Coach Jim McGuire said. "Our starting pitchers kept us in the games and gave us opportunities throughout the series and that was big. I thought we hit throughout the lineup. We had big hits, timely hits and we had guys getting it done in big situations.
"It is a good start to the season. We just need to stay focused and continue to improve. It's certainly a great way to get things started."
Freshman left-hander Peyton Wigginton (1-0) earned the start in the series finale, and the southpaw made sure his Blue Raider debut would be one to remember. Wigginton pitched six innings, scattering six hits, allowing just one run, striking out seven and walking one to earn the win in his first career start.
Wigginton turned the game over to fellow freshman Zach Keenan in the seventh. Keenan provided two innings of one-hit shutout baseball, striking out two. Fellow freshman John Dowless came on to close out the game in the top of the ninth.
While the pitchers controlled the game, Middle Tennessee hitters provided plenty of breathing room.
Manuel Lopez just missed hitting for the cycle and led the 12-hit attack with a 3-for-4 effort that included a home run, triple and single. Lopez also scored three times and drove in two runs. His first home run of the season was a gargantuan opposite-field blast to right field that opened up a 5-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth.
Lopez was not the only Blue Raider to open the season swinging a hot bat. LA Woodard capped a dazzling weekend with a 2-for-2 performance that included a double, two runs scored, one RBI and one stolen base, his third of the season.
Austin Dennis and Kevin Sullivan also provided multi-hit performances to help ignite the Blue Raider offense. Dennis capped a strong weekend by going 2-for-4 with two doubles, two runs scored and two RBI. Sullivan was also solid all weekend and provided a multi-hit game with a 2-for-3 effort.
It was a sizzling day at the plate for Woodard, Dennis, Myles Christian and Aaron Aucker, who combined for 14 hits in the two games Sunday. Woodard was exceptional on the day, going 5-for-7 with four runs scored, three RBI and three stolen bases. He had eight total bases and collected a double and triple.
Dennis and Christian were each 3-for-7 and hit .429 in the two games, while Aucker finished the day with a .400 clip.
The Blue Raiders will look to continue their winning ways with a road game against Alabama Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 3 PM.
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